Vending-machine.



No. 683,607. Patented on. I, new.

J. n. KNEEDLER. VENDING- MAUI-"NE.

(.No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet I.

Patented Out. I, 190i.

3 Shaets-Sheet 2.

J. D. KNEEDLER.

VENDING MACHINE.

(Application filed Nov. 18, 1900.)

(No Model.)

s I I Witmmeo ZW No. 683,607. Patented Oct. 1, I90l.

J. D. KNEEDLEB. VENDING MACHINE.

(Anplication filed Nov. 13, 1900.) (No Model.) v 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

fga g. 6

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN DEAM KNEEDLER, OF SIOUX CITY, IOWA.

VENDING -MACHINE'.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 683,607, dated October 1, 1901.

Application filed November 13, 1900. Serial No. 36,404. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN DEAM KNEEDLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sioux City, in the county of Woodbury and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vending-Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to vending-machines, and more particularly to that variety thereof designed to retail spool cotton, silk, and similar articles, and while my invention will be found especially desirable and adapted in ac cordance with the presentation herein made for selling spool cotton, silk, &o., of any'numher or size of thread, yet by slight modification it may be rendered very desirable and useful for the purpose of vending many small articles, the details of construction being fully set forth in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, of which- Figure l is an end view of my invention complete, the middle portion thereof being removed. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section showing the upper part of the casing undisturbed. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on a plane extending through the spool-' holding compartments. Fig. 4 is a detail showing the position of the coin-slots with respect to the spool-holding compartments. Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the inner end of a spool-holding compartment. Fig. 6 is a detail view showing a part of the casing in section and illustrating the outer end of the spool-compartments and the outer edge of the spool-rack upon which the lower spoolcompartment rests. Fig.7 is a perspective view showing a portion of the spool-supporting rack. Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing one form of coin-chute, while Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate, respectively, the outer and inner side of another form of coin-chute.

In order to conveniently refer to the several features of my invention, designatingnumerals will be employed, the same numeral referring to the corresponding part throughout the several views.

In coin-controlled vending-machines designed to sell spool cotton, silk, or the like it is common to provide more or less cumbrous and expensive operating devices, which in many instances have proven very objectionable by reason of their liability to get out of order. In materializing my invention I have therefore aimed at great simplicity and consequent cheapness of construction, and it will be found that there are but few parts involved in my vending-machineand that such parts may be rendered readily accessible for the purpose of replacement or repair.

While I have illustrated a framework of special design and construction, it will be understood that any suitable form of easing adapted to house the various operating parts and the thread to be vended may be employed. I prefer, however, to provide a casing havbeyond the line of the spool-cabinet proper sufiiciently to afford a housing for the operating devices, and thereby leave the interior space beneath the spool-cabinet for the reception of the spool as it is pushed inward by the delivery-rod, all of which will be hereinafterspecifically pointed out.

In constructing my cabinet I provide the base-section proper, which consists of the bottom 1 and the vertical walls 2, upon which rests the ledge or flange 3, which extends entirely around the spool-cabinet, which latter consists of the exterior walls 4 and the interior parallel walls 5, the latter being placed suificiently away from the exterior walls to provide a space between said walls adapted to loosely receive endwise a spool of cotton, silk, or the like, each spool being separated by the vertical partitions 6 a sufficient distance apart to insure that a series of spoolreceiving compartments 7 will be provided. If deemed desirable, partition-walls 4 and 5 need not be parallel with each other, but may be arranged as shown in Fig. 3, thereby providing a series of compartments 7 of decreasiuglength and fitting said compartments for the reception of spools of various size. The compartments 7 extend vertically to the upper portion of the spool-cabinet, where each able door placed in the top of the cabinet, thereby enabling the operator to fill each of the compartments 7 with the thread of proper ing a base portion or section which extends one is rendered readily accessible by a suitsize. An interior compartment may be provided between the partitions 5, as by mounting the floor-section 8 as shown in Fig. 2 and providing the parallel walls 9, or said walls 9 may be omitted and the interior walls 5 may be utilized, as will be readily understood, thus providing an interior compartment for holding stock, which may be placed in the proper compartment 7 from time to ti me as the supply therein becomes exhausted.

Upon each side of the machine I secure, and preferably countersink in the surface of the flange 3, a metallic plate 10, which extends throughout the length of the spool-cabinet proper and is provided along its inner edge with a series of coin-slots 11, there being one of said slots immediately in front of each of the compartments 7. Each of the coin-slots and its respective compartment may be numbered, as indicated in Fig. 3, said number corresponding to the size of the thread contained in the compartment, thereby enabling the operator to readily make selection and drop his coin in the proper slot. Each of the slots 11 leads into a throat 12, formed in the flange 3, which latter communicates with a slot or receptacle 13, formed between the plates 14 and 15. The plate 14 extends throughout the length of the spool-cabinet and is securely fastened to the outer edge of the spool-rack 16, which is illustrated in detail in Fig. 7. The plate 14 may, if preferred, be substituted by the plate 17, (illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10,) as will be hereinafter pointed out. The plate 15 is secured to the vertical partition 18, which extends parallel with the outer Wall 2, or the partition 18 may be moved inward sufficiently to form a continuation of the throat 12. The plate 14 is provided upon its lower edge with an outwardly-curved section or lip 19, adapted-to checkthe coin and hold'it in such position that it will be in registration with the aperture 20, there being a series of said apertures provided in the plate 14, each aperture being directly opposite the end of the lower spool 21 as it lies in one of the grooves 22, provided in the spool-rack 16.

Designed to thrust the lower spool inward when the proper coin has been dropped in the slot 11 is the delivery-rod 23, which is mounted in suitable apertures provided in the walls 2 and 18, so that said rod may move longitudinally therein, the rod being held normally outward by the compression-spring 24, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. It will be understood that a suitable check-pin 25 is carried by the rod 23, said pin being designed to hold the rod 23 against undue outward movement. The inner end of the rod 23 is sharpened and the spool which it is designed to operate upon is so disposed that the sharpened end will enter the usual central bore provided in the spool when the proper coin is not interposed, thus preventing the spool from being acted upon by the rod unless a coin hasbeen dropped in the slot 11. A suitable opening is provided along the inner end of all the spools of thread,

and said opening is inclosed by the door or lip 26, properly hinged to the lower edge of the partition-wall 5, as indicated by the numeral 27. The lip 26 is held normally closed by the spring 28, properly secured in position at a convenient point so that the free end thereof will bear against the door, as clearlyindicated in Fig. 2.

In order that the spool when it is thrust inward will be directed downward to a point within the base-section which will enable the same to be readily accessible to the operator, I provide the inclined walls 29, as shown in Fig. 2, the inclination of said walls being such that the spool will be delivered by gravity, so that the operator may reach through the opening 30 and secure it.

At the inner end of the spool I provide a slot 31, through which the coin may drop into the cash-box 32, which extends the entire length of the spool-cabinet and may be provided with a suitable lock and key. The location of the spool-rack is such that the lower spool of the series resting in the compartments 7 will be received by one of the grooves 22, the spool in this position resting directly opposite one of the openings 20, provided in the plate 14, thereby insuring that when the rod 23 is thrust inward by pressing upon the button 33 the point of the rod will contact with the coin and force the same through the opening 20 and against the end of the spool, thereby causing the spool to be moved inward against the door 26, and as the tension of the spring 28 will be overcome said door will open sufficiently to permit the spool to passinward upon the inclined wall 29, While the coin will drop downward into the cashbox through the slot 31. Then the pressure is released upon the button 33, the spring 23 will restore the rod to its normal position. If a coin of smaller denomination than that designed to operate the mechanism is employed, it will drop downward past thelip 19 and will thus prevent the spool from being forced outward.

In Figs. 9 and 10 it will be seen that I have provided a plate 17, which corresponds to the plate 14 and may be secured to the outer edge of the spool-rack 16. The plate 17 is provided with an inwardly-directed flange 34 and also upon its outer side with a series of coin-slots 35 of proper size to receive a fivecent piece or other coin adopted for the operation of the machine. The lower end of the chute 35 is cut away, as indicated by the opening 36, which is designed to receive the rod 23 when thrust inward. The plate 17 is provided at a point opposite each spool with a semicircular opening 37 of proper size to enable the coin to be thrust inward against the end of the spool when the button 33 is pressed. In order to prevent the coin from dropping past the opening 37, I leave a portion of the flange 34 directly in the path of the falling coin, said flange so left being designed to check the undue downward moveinent of the coin and suspend it directly opposite the opening 37 and immediately adjacent to the end of the spool to be operated upon. I desire to employ this form of coinslot in many instances, in which case the plate 14 will be omitted and replaced by the plates 17, as above described. I

It will be understood that a plurality of shafts or rods 23 will be provided in accordance with the number of compartments 7, there being one rod for each compartment.

Having thus fully described the construction of myimproved spool-vending cabinet, the operation or manner of using the same may be stated to be as follows: The door at the top may be opened and each of the compartments 7 filled with thread of proper size corresponding to the numbers placed upon the plate 10, when said lid may be securely locked. The machine is now ready for a customer, who by looking at the list of numbers upon the plate 10 may readily select the variety of thread she desires, when by placing a coin in the slot 11 adjacent to the number selected said coin will drop downward and rest upon the flange 19 or 34, as the case may be, and be directly opposite and in registration with the opening 20 or 37, when a pressure upon the button 33 will cause the point of the rod to force the coin inward against the end of the spool and cause said spool to contact the door 26 and force said door open, permitting the spool to fall down the inclined wall 29, while the coin will drop through the opening 31 into the cash-box 32. By releasing the pressure upon the button 33 the rod will move outward by the action of the spring 24:, when by gravity the entire number of spools in the compartment 7 will drop downward until the lower spool rests in the groove 22 and be thus disposed in position ready for the operation to be repeated. Should an attempt be made to operate the device without placing a coin in the slot, the pointed end of the rod 23 will simply pierce the usual paper label placed upon the end of the spool, when the rod will enter the bore of the spool and cause no disturbance thereof, it being understood that the tension of the spring 28 will be sufficient to resist more pressure than would be required to perforate the paper label.

If deemed desirable, a door 38 maybe placed in one or both ends of the spool-cabinet proper in order to render the interior compartment accessible, in which case a suitable door 39 may be provided for each series of spool-compartmen ts, said doors being properly secured in place by a suitable lock and by the hinges 40. The base portion, or that section beneath the spool-cabinet proper, may also be utilized to mount at a convenient point therein or in one end thereof a roll of paper, which may be used for wrapping the thread as purchased.

It will be understood that the various parts of my invention may be formed of any suitable material and of any preferred size or capacity, and while I have described the preferred construction and arrangement which may be adopted it will be understood that I desire to comprehend in this application'i'all such substantial equivalents and modifications as may be considered to fall fairly within the purview of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In a vending-machine of the character specified, the combination with a series of receptacles, of a supporting-rack provided with a groove designed to receive the lower spool; a support having'a coin-slot and fixed means to hold the coin in position in registration with the end of the spool and a push-button and means intermediate the push-button and coin constructed to enter the bore of the spool when a coin is not present and adapted to force the coin when present against the spool whereby the spool will be forced out of its position on the rack into a receptacle, all com- .bined substantially as specified and for the purpose set forth.

2. The herein described coin operated vending-machine-for thread or the like, comprising a series of receptacles adapted to hold spools of varying size, in combination witha supporting-rack having a plurality of grooves, each groove designed to cooperate with one of said spool-holding compartments; means to check the coin so that it Will rest immediately adjacent to the end of the spool to be secured and suitable devices for forcing the coin and spool inward, whereby the spool will fall down ward into a receptacle and the coin will drop into the cash-box, said devices disposed to enter the central bore of the spool when a coin is not present against the end of the spool, all substantially as specified and for the purpose set forth.

3. In aspool-cabinet and vending-machine, a spool-supporting rack having a series of grooves in combination with a plate having upon its lower edge means to check the falling coin, said plate being provided with a series of apertures located directly opposite the end of the spool whereby the coin may be thrust inward through said aperture against the spool and a door adapted to hold the spool against inward movement; a spring designed to hold said door normally closed and operating devices for overcoming the tension of the spring and thrusting the spool through the door and a push-pin for forcing a coin and spool inward, said pin being disposed to enter the central bore of the spool when a coin is not present, all combined substantially as specified and for the purpose set forth.

'4. In a spool-vending cabinet, a coin-slot comprising a plate 17 having a fiange 34 said plate being provided with a plurality of coinsize apertures, each aperture located directly opposite the spool to be selected, said flange being cut away sufficiently to permit a smaller coin to pass downward, yet of sufficient extent to arrest the true coin and hold the same in registration with said aperture, in combination with suitable devices constructed to thrust said coin inward against the spool and cause the latter to drop downward within reach of the operator and to enter the central bore of the spool when a coin is not present against its end, allsubstantially as specified and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a spool-vending machine, a coin-slot comprising a plate 17 and a flange 34, in combination with a chute proper secured to said plate and cooperating with said flange whereby the coin will be arrested and held in position directly opposite an aperture provided in said plate and adjacent to the end of the spool to be selected and a push-pin disposed in line with the central bore of the spool, all substantially as specified and for the purpose set forth.

6. The herein-described cabinet comprising a spool-cabinet proper in its upper portion and a base supporting said cabinet and having an inclined partition and a receptacle covered thereby to receive a coin before the spool is delivered to said partition, said base being constructed to accommodate the coin-operating devices and receive the thread as the latter is selected,combined with a spool-su pporting rack having grooves, a spring-actuated closure for the inner end thereof and means for forcing a coin against a spool and the spool and coin out of the rack, all substantially as shown and described.

7. In a coin-operated vending-machine, the combination with a suitable cabinet designed to hold thread of varying size, of a plate having a coin-slot, a plate having an aperture at a point therein opposite each spool selected; means cooperating with said plate to arrest the coin and hold it opposite said aperture and a rod movable parallel with the axis of the spool and having a sharpened point adapted to be forced against said coin whereby a coin will be moved against the end of the spool and the latter thrust inward, all substantially as specified and for the purpose set forth.

8. In a spool-cabinet, a rod designed to force a selected spool inward, said rod being movable parallel with the axis of the spool and provided upon its inner end with a sharpened point adapted to take into the central bore of the spool of thread unless a coin is interposed, a coin-rest having a horizontal flange on which the coin is supported, and suitable means to hold said rod disposed normally outward, all substantially as specified and for the purpose set forth.

0. In a coin-operated vending-machine, the combination with a rack and a spring-actuated closure for the inner end thereof with an opening beneath the inner end of the rack for the passage of a coin, of a coin-check at the outer end of the rack and means disposed opposite the bore in the spool for forcing acoin held in said check against a spool in the rack to force the spool and coin inward and constructed to enter the bore of a spool if a coin is not present against the end of the same, substantially as specified.

10. Inacoin-operatedvending-machine,the combination with a rack and a spring-actuated closure for the inner end thereof with an opening beneath the inner end of the rack between the same and the closure for the passage of a coin, of a coin-check at the outer end of the rack, means disposed opposite the bore of the spool for forcing a coin held in said check against a spool in the rack to force the spool and coin inward together and constructed to enter the bore of a spool if a coin is not present against the end thereof, and an inclined chute Within the casing of the machine beyond the inner end of the rack and beyond the closure whereby as the coin and spool are forced inward the spool will pass onto the inclined chute and the coin drop into a receptacle beneath said chute, all substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN DEAM KNEEDLER.

Witnesses:

' CHAS. E. JANDT,

GEORGE H. J ANDT. 

